Theocratic Nightmare

Nearing the end of 2015, continuing into what was at one time dreamed of as a fascinating and curious future, all we seem to be able to do is kill one another in the name of our gods. What great clanking chains religion places upon our species, bending our backs and forcing us to our knees when we might arise and work towards real solutions rather than debate who is going to have a better afterlife, who is going and who is not, what bounty they will receive when they arrive. Why is our real, livable, undoubtable life so much less important to religious folk than the theoretical one upon which no one can agree or even demonstrate actually exists?

Paris Terrorist Meme Picture With Clever Quote That The Person Never Really Said

No meme here, no clever picture with quotes that may or may not be real - just me saying my piece.

How do the terrorists win? By convincing us to change our convictions. By tempting us to compromise our principles. By making us more like the terrorists themselves - people without compassion, without humanity, who believe that problems are solved through revenge and violence. We will stand firm, we will pursue them to the ends of the earth, but if we turn our anger inward and start waging a war on our own citizens, then we have already lost.

Saturn, Enceladus, and Sampling Sprays of Water

So very, very cool. Our space probes and the everyone involved with the programs are accomplishing amazing things. Our own solar system is more diverse and interesting than most people, even sci-fi writers, ever imagined.

Flying by those south pole plumes and tasting Enceladus’ ocean are the next order of business. On October 28th, Cassini will make an even closer approach, sailing within 30 miles (49 kilometers) of the moon’s south polar region to sample Enceladus’ ocean water and analyze its chemistry. We already know that this extraterrestrial ocean is alkali like our own, and modeling studies suggest it could be dominated by the same chemical reactions that fueled life on early Earth.

Fun for Whovians

The Doctor Who Crew had to Come Together to get this photo taken before The Master's, er, Maxwell's Silver Hammer came down. Also, what's up with the zigzag lines?

Ballsy Pickups

Think I'll forgo the pic on this post, since it's just another "contemplating the nature of the universe" sort of comment. Or #nuggetofwisodom if you prefer.

I saw another truck with fake testicles (or, as Wikipedia notes, "truck nutz, truck balls, BumperNuts, BumperBalls, CargoNads, Drive-thru Danglers, Trucksticles, HitchNuggets, Highway Hangers, Balls-on-a-truck, or (in the UK), Bumper Bollocks") hanging from the trailer hitch. It occurred to me that, since there's a scrotum hanging off the back, what part of the anatomy is up front in the driver's seat?

Religious Liberty and Same-Sex Marriage: Spanish Inquisition Edition

Photo credit: https://twitter.com/WLKYEmily/status/639466670684262400


Regarding Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis' refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses while citing God as her authority: How can it be considered a question of religious liberty for a government official to impose her religious beliefs on others? We're not talking about a private businessperson or organization in this case, but a person who is supposed to serve all of the people, not just those who share her religious beliefs.

Would the protesters (and, in fact, Kentucky state gubernatorial candidates) who claim that her religious liberty would be violated make the same claim if her given reason for not issuing same-sex marriage licenses was that it was against, say, Sharia law? Would they rise up in an equally zealous defense of religious liberty? Or are they only concerned with maintaining the religious liberty of the majority, and would otherwise concede that if she cannot in good conscience perform her duties as a representative of the people, then she should resign?

If she is held in contempt of court, it will appear that it is because of her religious beliefs. But she's not only standing up for the right to practice her religion, she's standing up for her right to impose her religion on others as a government official. If she wasn't, then she'd resign. And that's exactly why religion should never be allowed to be intertwined with government.

One last bit of kibble for thought: was the Spanish Inquisition OK because officials were just standing up for their religious beliefs, even though they were denying the legal rights of others?

UPDATE: If the religious beliefs of one single government official are ever allowed to control the laws that govern the citizens that the official represents, then that is religious tyranny, not religious liberty.

When We Lose People Who Truly Make A Difference In This World - Like Batman

If there really were a god.....

And if he had a plan.....

And if it were part of his plan that a man who spends his time and money dressing as Batman and bringing joy, love and laughter to sick children should be called home to heaven killed.....

Then why in the world would I ever worship such a god?

Children everywhere have lost a friend, a friend that some children now will never know.

NRA Board Member to Dead Pastor: It's Your Fault

NRA Board Member Blames Charleston Shooting Deaths on Pastor

Disclaimer: I'm not blaming the NRA for the Charleston shootings. Unlike certain NRA board members linked above, I think it's far more complicated than that.
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Eight of his church members who might be alive if he had expressly allowed members to carry handguns in church are dead. Innocent people died because of his position on a political issue.

That is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Innocent people died because they were shot by a racist thug with a gun. It makes about as much sense as me claiming that they might be alive if the NRA board member had not armed the shooter. But if you're an NRA board member, I guess everything is fair game if it can be politicized and used to sell more guns.
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So now you're telling people that they have to carry a gun to be safe in a place of worship, and that the NRA's continual battle for the right of gun manufacturers to sell as many guns to as many people as possible with no regard to whom they're being sold does not contribute to this in any way? Your relentless fear-mongering* serves no purpose but to sell more guns. Your continual support of the most ludicrous conspiracy theories serves no purpose but to sell more guns. If your goal was truly to protect the rights of gun owners, and our right to bear arms (which you may be shocked to find that I support), then you would support sensible gun control legislation that at least made it difficult for those who shouldn't have guns to get them. Why are background checks a burden? Why is waiting a few days for a thorough review a burden? Why is a gun license a burden, but a fishing license is not? Why do you insist that the solution is to force everyone to participate in an arms race? Because you've allowed your purpose to become working as a lobbyist for gun manufacturers rather than gun owners, and making sure manufacturers can sell as many guns as possible.

If you want to stop feeling like you're a target every time mass gun casualties occur, then show your support for responsible gun ownership. Promote gun education programs for all gun purchasers. Stop insulting people that might otherwise work with you by using blanket terms like "gungrabbers". Show some real backbone, tell the gun manufacturers to stuff it, and work with gun owners and legislators to find a solution that does not involve gun proliferation. Start working for the responsible gun owners who are getting unfairly smeared by all of this, and clearly call out the idiots who (so bravely!) parade around suburban Targets and Chipotles armed to the teeth with rifles strapped to their backs for no other reason than they can. Stop using fear to sell guns, because guns aren't just another "As Seen On TV" consumer product. And stop blocking every effort to study the problem and find a solution. We all bear some responsibility for what is happening; it's time the NRA claimed their fair share and dropped the "Who, me?"charade.

In 2008, the Supreme Court stated that the adjective in the phrase "well-regulated militia" in the Second Amendment  "implies nothing more than the imposition of proper discipline and training.", thus reaffirming the right of individual citizens to bear arms. Assuming the NRA agrees with this definition, then they should stop blocking efforts to make sure this proper discipline and training take place, and work towards making sure that those who ignore proper discipline and training (like making guns easily available to irresponsible teens) are held responsible. Take a lesson from the brave families of the victims and reach out for a solution instead of pointing a gun in everyone's face.
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Never gonna happen, yes, I know. But I needed to say it. Please commence with posting educationally sarcastic memes that will remedy my clearly twisted point of view with insightful cleverness.

* I recall, for example, a billboard in Ohio that went up shortly after Obama was elected telling me to hurry to an upcoming gun show before Obama could take away my guns.